Warbird Information Exchange

OK.... I know what it is....
But what was its purpose and how was it utilized in flight??

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'Tight Lines!"

Wes

Pitch control during transition/vertical flight (helo mode) would be my guess?

Gary

Thanks Gary.
That was my guess also. but just a guess.
Here is some more info:

CHANCE-VOUGHT/LTV XC-142A

The tilt-wing XC-142A was an experimental aircraft designed to investigate the operational suitability of vertical/short takeoff and landing transports. Such an aircraft would permit rapid movement of troops and supplies into unprepared areas under all-weather conditions. An XC-142A first flew conventionally on Sept. 29, 1964, and on Jan. 11, 1965, it completed its first transitional flight by taking off vertically, changing to forward flight and finally landing vertically.

Tilting the wing and engines skyward permitted vertical takeoff like a helicopter and then the wing and engines were gradually tilted forward to provide the greater speed of a fixed-wing aircraft in forward flight. The engines were linked together so that a single engine could turn all four propellers and the tail rotor. In tests the XC-142A was flown from airspeeds of 35 mph backwards to 400 mph forward. XC-142As were tested extensively by the Army, Navy, Air Force and NASA.

The aircraft on display -- the only remaining XC-142A -- was one of five built. It was flown to the museum in 1970.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Span: 67 ft. 6 in.
Length: 58 ft. 2 in.
Height: 25 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 41,500 lbs. maximum
Armament: None
Engines: Four General Electric T64s of 3,080 hp each
Serial number: 65-5924
Other registrations: NASA 522

PERFORMANCE:
Maximum speed: 400 mph
Cruising speed: 235 mph
Range: 820 miles
Service ceiling: 25,000 ft.

_________________
'Tight Lines!"

Wes

In the B&W pic you can see the operating "tail rotor".

_________________
'Tight Lines!"

Wes